Half to william



(No Model Y S. H. GODMAN.

BRIDGE. NO- 335.104. Patented Feb. 16, 1886.`

UNITED STATEST PATENT OFFICE.

SOLOMON H. GODMAN, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO WILLIAM O. WHITEHEAD, OF SAME PLACE.

' BRIDGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 336,104l dated February 16, 1886.

Application filed June 12, 1885.

formed of equal length, thereby insuring that the contraction and expansion effected by the extremes of temperature shall affect all parts of the bridge equally.

It further consists of improvements in the construction of the supports, which are placed under the bottoms of the end posts to allow the longitudinal contraction and expansion ofthe bridge, wherebyall dirt, ice, snow, &c., which ordinarily get into said supports and lessen their efficiency, are excluded, and the satisfactory operation of said supports thereby insured at all times, all of which will be hereinafter more particularly set forth.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof, and on which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bridge embodying my saidinvention; Fig. 2, atransverse section through one side of said bridge, looking to the right from the'dotted line z z; Fig. 3, a similar section looking to the right from the dotted line y y, the strut being omitted; Fig. 4, adetail perspective view showing the lower end of one ofthe end posts and my improved device on which it rests, one corner of the top of which is broken away to show the inside; and Fig. 5, a central longitudinal section through said device.

In said drawings, the portions marked A represent the lower chord of the bridge; B, the upright posts or struts thereof; C, the top chord; D, the end posts; E, the diagonal struts;

- F, the long diagonal truss-rods; G, the short diagonal truss-rods; H, counter-rods; I, long suspension-rods; J, short suspension-rods; K, aline of tie or stiifem'ng rods, and L, my imw, l v.

Serial No. 168,457. (No model.)

proved supports, upon which the ends of the bridge rest.

The lower chords, A, are not of a peculiar construction; but may be of any form desired which is suitable for this form of bridge. The upright struts B are also of a common construction, and are secured to the chords by any suitable or desired means. They are placed about twice the usual distance apart,

the improved construction of the truss-work permitting about one-half the usual number kto be dispensed with, as will be presently more fully described.

The top chords, C, are in main of an ordinary construction, and are provided at the proper intervals with appropriate means for securing the struts and truss-rods thereto. They are formed considerably shorter and proportionately larger with my improved construction than ordinarily, the end posts being formed longer, as will be presently described.

The end posts, D, are secured at their top ends and lower ends to the top and lower chords by pins, or in any desired manner. They are formed somewhat longer than in the usual constructions, and at their centers are provided with means for connecting the diagonal struts E thereto.

The diagonal struts E are formed about onehalf the length of the end posts, and preferably of about the same length as the short diagonal truss-rods.

They are secured at one end to the end posts,in the center thereof, and at their other ends are secured to the lower chord directly under the joint formed by the connection of the end post and top chord, the same bolt which secures the lower ends of the suspension-rods J to the lower chord preferably passing through an eye in this end of said strut and securing it to said chord also. By reason of these short diagonal struts the end posts are permitted to be made considerably longer than ordinarily, and considerable saving of material is thus effected in the top chordl by reason of its decreased length as before described.

The long` diagonal truss-rods F are preferably double, and are provided with an enlarged central portion, in which a hole is provided for the insertion of a pin, f, by which other IOO parts are secured in place,as will be lpresently described. One of these double truss-- rods extends from each of the corners formed by the connection of the end posts and top chord toward the middle of the span to the bottom of the nearest strut,-or first vertical strut from the end of the span, and from the top of said strut to the foot of the next strut toward the middle. In thebridge shown there are but three vertical struts in the span, and

thus two Vof these truss-rods on each end of the span would bring the bottomrends of thev two nearest together-at the foot of the middlestrut; but in longer spans, having more struts,

a correspondingly greater number of these diagonal truss-rods would be necessary, as will be readily understood.V They are secured at their ends to the`upper and lower lchords by bolts or pins in the usual and well-known manner.

The short diagonal truss-rods G are of a length equal to one-half the length of the rods F, and are secured at the top of each ofthe upright struts at one end, and extend toward the end of the span, and are secured between the parts of the double truss-rod F at the center by the pins f, which ext-end th rough said parts, and an eye formed in the end of said short truss-rod. One extends each way from the top of the middle strut and connects with the middle long rod on its side of said strut, as shown.

The counter-rods H are secured between the double truss-rods F on the same pinfwith the short diagonal truss-rods G, and extend therefrom in line with said rods G to the foot of the next strut,where the other end is secured. An ordinary turn-buckle, h, is provided midway in each of said counter-rods, by which they can be drawn to the required tension. These counter-rods serve to prevent the long trussrods from springing upwardly, and prevent the central point of connection of the several rods from getting out of the proper location from any cause.

The long suspension-rods I are secured at the corners formed by the end posts and top chord at their top ends, and to the lower chord directly underneath said corner, thus serving to support the ends of the sections of said lower chord and the Hoor-beams there located.

'Ihe short suspension-rods .I support the door-beams at an intermediate point between each pair of struts between the end struts and the suspension-rods I, and,i between said suspension-rods and the ends of said lower chords, respectively, said points being those where floor-beams are usually located. They are-secured at their lower ends at these points in any suitable manner, and are secured at their top ends to the center of the long doubletrussrods between their parts on the pins f, an eye being formed in said top ends for this purpose.

The line of tie or stiffening rods K pass from the top corners down through the center of the struts longitudinally of the span, and

idity. They form no-part of -my present invention,however,` being fully-described and illustrated in my Letters Patent No. 263, 333, dated August 29, 1882.

The construction of the lower part of the bridge, including 4the door -beams, the supports for the same, and all the under work of the bridge, is or may be of any approved construction, and needs no description in this application.

platea of appropriate size, having low side -iianges and .transverse troughs o'r grooves l therein, loose rollers L being mounted in these grooves, and a top orcap piece, L2, placed on top,- resting on said rollers. The sides of the plates are of sufficient size to prevent the rollers from working out of their places in the to prevent the top L2 from being supported on the rollers. Said top piece is of a width sufficient to extend out over-the sides of the bedplate, and is provided with side anges, l', which extend down far enough to overlap the side flanges of the bed-plate. It is formed somewhat longer than the part of the bed-plate having the rollers therein, in order to permit its longitudinal movement on said rollers. Its ends are curved down to completely inclose said rollers and effectively prevent any dirt, snow, ice, or such substance from getting therein and impeding the operation of the device.

supports, they are permitted to easily move the short distance required during the contraction and expansion of the bridge without disarranging any of the parts or injuring the construction of the bridge. As a whole, this construction of the truss-work contains about in the construction of bridges, and, by reason of the increased size of these parts subjected directly to the strain, the bridge is equally strong and durable, while much cheaper to construct. The corresponding parts of the bridge all being` of corresponding lengths, they are equally affected by the extremes of temperature, and the regular arrangement of the parts is thus maintained during all temperatures, thereby insuring that the regular and equal distribution of the strain shall also be maintained at all times.

I am aware that bridges have before been constructed with rods suspending the oorbeams extending from the intersections of the bracing and counter-bracing rods, and also with a strut and suspending-rod arranged between the inclined endv posts and the first panel-point of the lower chord; but I am not shown and claimed was ever known prior to my invention thereof.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as. new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a bridge, the combination, with the serve to give it additional strength and rigupper and lower chords and end posts thereof,

The supports L consist of rectangular bed! grooves longitudinally, but not high enough.

The ends ofthe bridge being placed on thesev one-half the number of pieces commonly usedV aware that the particular construction hereiny IOO ISO

of diagonal struts extending from said end posts to the lower chord, the upright struts, long trussrods extending from the corners formed by the connection of the end posts and top chord, or from the top of the vertical struts to the foot of the next vertical strut, the short truss-rods connecting the central portions of said long truss-rods to the top chord or top end of the vertical strut nearest it, and suspension-rods supporting the floorbeams, substantially as set forth.

2. In a bridge, the combination, with the lower chord, A, upright struts B, top chord, O, and end posts, D, of the diagonal struts E, long truss-rods F, short truss-rods G, counterrods H, long suspension-rods I, and short suspension-rods J, all arranged and operating substantially as described, and for the purposes specified.

3. The combination, with the upper and lower chords, upright struts, and end posts of a bridge, of the long doubletruss-rods F, having pin-holes provided in the center thereof, the short truss-rods G, secured at one end to said central portion and at its other end to the top chord at the top of the next strut, and the counter-rod H, connected at one end to the central portion of said long truss-rods, and at its other to the lower chord at the foot of the next strut, all substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with a bridge, of the supports L, for carrying the ends of said bridge, consisting ofthe bed-plate provided with transverse grooves, the rollers L, mounted loosely in said grooves, and the top piece, L2, mounted on top and bearing on saidn rollers, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 27th day of January, A. D. 1885.

SOLOMON H. GODMAN. [L s] In presence of- E. W. BRADFORD, CHAs. L. THURBER. 

